Abstract
Objective
Assess parents', children's, and restaurant executives' perspectives on children's
meals in restaurants.
Design
Cross-sectional.
Setting
Parents and children completed predominantly quantitative surveys at 4 quick- and
full-service restaurant locations. Telephone interviews were conducted with executives
representing additional restaurants.
Participants
Parents (n = 59) and their first- through fourth-grade children (n = 58); executives
(n = 4).
Variables Measured
Parent/child perspectives on child meal selection and toy incentives in restaurants;
executives' views on kids' meals and barriers to supplying healthier kids' meals.
Analysis
Frequencies, thematic analysis.
Results
A total of 63% of children ordered from children's menus, 8% of whom ordered healthier
kids' meals. Half of parents reported that children determined their own orders. Taste
was the most common reason for children's meal choices. Most (76%) children reported
visiting the restaurant previously; 64% of them placed their usual order. Parents'
views on toy incentives were mixed. Themes from executive interviews highlighted factors
driving children's menu offerings, including children's habits and preferences and
the need to use preexisting pantry items. Executives described menu changes as driven
by profitability, consumer demand, regulation, and corporate social responsibility.
Conclusions and Implications
Findings can inform the development of restaurant interventions that are effective
in promoting healthier eating and are acceptable to parents, children, and restaurant
personnel.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 18, 2017
Accepted:
November 20,
2016
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors' conflict of interest disclosures can be found online with this article on www.jneb.org.
Identification
Copyright
©2016 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
